While Manny Pacquiao waits on “Floyd Time” and Mike Tyson remains sidelined by injury, the only opponent Floyd Mayweather is openly preparing to face owns one of the most experienced resumes in combat sports.
Promotional material for Mayweather’s June 27 exhibition in Athens, Greece lists Mike “Iron” Zambidis with 180 fights, 158 victories and 87 knockouts.
Zambidis may not be a boxer by trade, but he built a reputation as one of kickboxing’s most feared punchers during the sport’s golden era.
The Greek star won multiple world titles, claimed 18 world championships, and became a fan favorite through his aggressive style, explosive power and willingness to take on larger opponents.
At his peak, Zambidis shared the ring with elite names including Buakaw, Masato, Albert Kraus and John Wayne Parr.
Iron Mike
Standing only 5ft 6ins tall, Zambidis spent much of his career giving away height and reach against bigger men.
Instead of trying to outbox them from range, he marched forward behind a compact high guard, closed distance and unleashed heavy hooks and overhand rights.
The approach produced some of the biggest victories of his career while earning him a place among the most recognizable figures in K-1 history.
His record eventually grew to 158 wins with 87 knockouts across 180 professional contests.
Those numbers are a major reason Zambidis remains one of the most recognizable names from kickboxing’s golden era.
The Only Confirmed Fight
The matchup also arrives at a curious time in Mayweather’s post-retirement career.
For months, Mayweather has been linked to a Netflix rematch with Manny Pacquiao and a separate exhibition involving Mike Tyson.
Neither event has reached the finish line.
Pacquiao’s team has repeatedly discussed plans for a fall showdown with a date reserved for September 25 at T-Mobile Arena, while Tyson’s proposed exhibition was postponed after Tyson suffered a broken hand.
However, despite all the speculation, the Athens exhibition remains the only fight with a date, venue and active promotion attached to it.
Mayweather used a Las Vegas press conference promoting the Athens event to discuss Pacquiao and state the rematch should be finalized within 48 hours.
More than a month later, fans are still waiting.
A Tight Schedule
Of all three bouts Floyd Mayweather continues to be linked with, the Mike Zambidis exhibition is the only one he has publicly acknowledged.
Whether that is a deliberate move remains unclear. However, if the Manny Pacquiao rematch and the proposed Mike Tyson exhibition are both targeted for the fall, Mayweather will eventually have to begin promoting them before he trades blows with Zambidis in Athens.
At present, both the Tyson and Pacquiao events have been announced by their respective teams rather than Mayweather himself. That leaves Floyd with a potentially crowded schedule and plenty of unanswered questions heading into the second half of 2026.
For now, while Pacquiao waits and Tyson continues training, the only opponent Mayweather is openly preparing to face is a Greek kickboxing legend with 180 fights, 158 wins and 87 knockouts.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Read full bio.
